Method and apparatus for making containers of vegetative pulp



Sept. 8; 1931. w. H. FULCHER ET AL.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONTAINERS OF VEGETATIVE PULP Filed April 9. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. W/LL/AM H. FULC'HER, CHARLES H WOOD. BY j, A 2 4 024, 45 rum ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 8, 1931. V w. H. FULCHER ETAL 1,822,020

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONTAINERS OF VEGETATIVE PULP Filed April 9. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. H. Fl/L CHER.

WILL/4M CHARLES H. W000.

TTORNEYS.

P 3, 1931- w. H. FULCHER ET AL 1,822,020

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONTAINERS OF VEGETATIVE PULP Filed April 9, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 F'u-g.

. INVENTOR. WILLIAM H. FULCHEI? CHARLES H. wooa.

TORNEYS.

Sept. 8', 1931. w; H. 'FULCHER ETAL 1,822,020

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONTAINERS OP VEGBTATIVE PULP Filedjpz il 9. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 E I i I I 'IIIIIIIIIIIII ,I'IIIIIII. '11 /0 INVENTOR.

o WILLIAM H. FUL CHER CHARLES H. waoa.

BY 2 33 2/ 30 J /h r m TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED S PAT EN? OF F [(TE WILLIAM H. IULCH'ER AND CHARLES H. WOOD, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA METHOD AND .APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONTAINERS OF VEGETATIVE PULP Application filed April 9,

' This invention relatesto a method and apparatus for the manufacture of rectangular containers of vegetative or'other pulp.

It is the principal object of the present in- 6 'vention to provide an improved method .and apparatus-enabling rectangular containers to be inexpensively manufactured from vegetatiVeorother-puIp. i

In'carrying out the invention into practice apredeterminedquantity.of pulp suspended in Water is placed in a contractile mold. A 'foraminous core corresponding to the interior I dimensions of the container to be formed is then inserted into the mold and the latter is 35 contracted to compress the pulp about the core and force the fluid into the core from whence it is drawn. The container thus 'formed-is-then partially dried, removed from the mold with the core, from the latter of whichitissubsequently strippedand removed from the apparatus.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and'illustratedby Way'of example in the accompanying drawingsflnwhich:

Fig. 1 is a-central vertical section through the machine with the stripper in place relative to the mold and the-core being lowered into the mold.

Fig. 2 is-a similar view taken at right angles "to Fig. 1 and disclosing the container being stripped from the core and disposed on the pallet for removal from the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section through the mold structure of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in plan showing theoperating mechanism for the stripper and the core.

Fig. -5 is a fragmentary view in section throughthe pallet showing its control valve and the manner in' which it is connected to :the hollow shaft which supports it relative to the machine.

Fig. 6 isa perspective'view of a container "formed by our improved method and apparatus.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the pallet control valve.

'8 is a fragmentary view in vertical central section through the mold structure 1928. Serial No. 268,502.

can bemade in various dimensions to produce a containers varying in-size from small cartons .to burial caskets, without departing from the present invention. It is to be understood that the Word container is here used to designate containers such as illustrated in Fig. 6 of'the drawings of any and all dimensions and proportions.

As will be noted from Fig. 6,-.the container is formed of four side walls arranged at right angles to each other and a bottom 'wall, all of which are integrally formed.

In connection with the present machine W6 prefer to use vegetative pulp suspended in water .but we do not limit ourselves to this use; as variousother pulp or fibrous-substances may be utilized in lieu thereof.

The machine comprises a suitably constructed frame 11 rigidly supporting a:mold structure 12. This moldstructure is formed with-a central rectangular well 13 of dimensions corresponding with the exterior dimensions of the container to be formed in the mold structure. At the two sides of the well 13 and at the ends thereof the mold structure is formed with horizontally and outwardly extending guideways 14. Side mold plates 15 andend mold plates 16 are reciprocably mounted in these guideways 14. The area and configuration of the inner faces of the side and end mold plates '15 and 16 are the same as the sides and ends of the well and the sides and ends of the container to be formed. The bottom of the well 13 is also formed with a vertical guideway 17 within which a bottom mold plate 18 is mounted for vertical reciprocation. This bottom mold plate 18 is of dimensions equalling the dimensions of the bottom of the well 13 and the bottom of the container to be formed in the mold structure.

WV hen the mold plates 15, 16 and 18 are in their innermost positions, their contiguous edges come in contact and the mold plates 15, 16 and 18 constitute imperforate side, end and bottom walls of the well 13.

To actuate the side and bottom mold plates 15 and 18, each of them is formed with outwardly converging cam faces 19. A pair of cams 20 are provided for each of these mold plates, the cams being arranged at the opposite ends of the plates. The cams are formed with cam faces that are complementary to the cam faces 19 on the mold lates, so that movement of the cams of eaci pair toward each other will cause the mold plate operated thereby to be moved to its innermost position. Anti-friction rollers are provided between the cam surfaces and between the bearing surfaces of the cams and guideways to reduce the friction. When the side and bottom mold plates are to be moved to their outermost position, the cams 20 are withdrawn sufficiently to permit springs 21 provided for each of these plates to move the mold plates to their outermost position.

To actuate the cams 20, we provide a horizontally disposed mold control shaft 22 which is j ournalled in the frame 11 centrally below the mold structure 12. Adjacent opposite ends this shaft is provided with a pair of aligned eccentrics 23 which are keyed or otherwise suitably secured on the shaft. Each of these eccentrics is provided with an eccentric strap 24. Each eccentric strap is pivotally connected to an upwardly extending shackle 25. These shackles are pivotally connected to a pair of vertically extending links 26 arranged at opposite sides of the mold structure. These links 26 are each connected to a pair of horizontally disposed toggle shafts 27 and 28 which are arranged horizontally in parallelism a spaced distance apart.

The toggle shafts 2'7 and 28 are connected by means of toggle links 29 to the frame 11.

The shafts 27 are also connected by means of toggle links 30 to the opposite end mold plates 16. At the ends of the shafts 27 toggle links 31 are provided which connect the shafts 27 with the actuating cams 20 of the side mold plates 15. The shafts 28 arealso connected by means of toggle links 32 to the cams 20 which actuate the bottom mold plate 18.

It is obvious therefore that when the mold plates are all in their outermost positions, one-half a revolution of the shaft 22 will actuate the toggle and link mechanism to move all of the mold plates 15, 16 and 18 to their innermost positions. For example. in

Fig. the eccentric is shown at the top of its stroke with the cams 20 of the lower mold plate 18 withdrawn so that the mold plate 18 positions. Therefore, when the eccentrics 23 revolve one-half a revolution placing their high point at 180 degrees from that shown in Fig. 2, the shafts 27 and 28 will be drawn downwardly through the links 26, straightening out the toggle connections and causing the two end mold plates to move to their innermost positions and simultaneously causing the cams 20 of the bottom mold plate to move inwardly and thereby elevate the bottom mold plate to its innermost position.

This movement also is transmitted through the links 31 to the cams 20 of the side mold plates 15, causing the latter to move inwardly to their innermost positions. As previously described when the mold plates are all arranged in their innermost positions, their edges adjoin to form the sides, ends and bottom of the central well 13.

It will be noticed that the springs which cause the side and bottom mold plates 15 and 18 to move outwardly. are arranged on pipes 33 which are reciprocably mounted through the stationary part of the mold structure and connected to the mold plates. At their outer ends these pipes are fitted with air regulators 34 which are in turn connected with flexible conduit 35. The springs are interposed between the elements 3 1 and the stationary part of the mold structure and are compressed when the mold plates move to their innermost positions and are therefore capable of moving the mold plates 15 and'18 to their outermost positions when the cams 20 are withdrawn. 1 p o All of the mold plates are formed with interior chambers with which the pipes 33 communicate. It is intended that these pipes 33 be all connected by means of the flexible conduit 35 to a source of fluid fuel such as gas which is burned in the chambers within the plates to heat the same. Air openings are provided for these chambers to provide sufficient oxygen for burning gas therein. We may prefer, however, to provide electrical heating elements for the plates. The reason for heating these plates will be hereinafter pointed out.

Extending vertically from the mold structure 12 and rigidly fixed relative thereto are four guide rods 36. The lower ends of these are rigidlyfixed to the mold structure which'in turn is stationarily secured to the frame 11. At the top these rods are securely connected by the top portion of the frame 11. Disposed between these four rods 36 is .a core 37 which'is in exact vertical alignment with the central well'13. The dimensions of this core are less than the dimensions of the central well, so that when the core is eisposed in the well the spacing between the side walls and bottom of the well and be tween the bottom of the well and the bottom of the core will be equal to the thickness that it is desired to form the walls of the container. The side, end and bottom walls of neaaoeo or ust Wire [mesh of 'ineslravhich decreases progressively in size. I The'OU-tel layer of mesh-is so fine that it will prevent any ofthe fibrous substances of the pulp from passing therethrough but-Will permit the Water to be drawn rapidly through the walls of the core.

The toppf "the core is enclosedby altluid tight coverBS, I i Y Rigidly secured to the top of the cored! andarrangedth'ereab'ove' are guide inernbers 39 which are slidablyidisposed on the guide rods 36f This connection between .tl e core and thelguide rods Zifipermits the core to be vertically neciprocated in accurate alignment with the Well; 1340f the mold structure.

To vertically ,reciprocatethe lcore 37, it is securlely connected lZOithGlOWQI end of a vertically extend-ingvnack 40.; This rack 49 extends upwardly from the core 37 andis guided in-nits vertical reciprocation by a flanged wheeldl carrie'd by the frame 11 The rack 40;is in mesh Wlbh a pinion 4E2; which is nigidly secured to a pair of; pulleys h) and 44 These pulleys l3iand 44 and the pinion are rotatably mounted on a countershaft 45 but are collared to prevent them from mova ia y i 7 i The pulley ll is connected by. means ofaa ,belt 46 to anpulley L'Yanounted on .a drive shaft 48. The pulley 43 is. connected by 3; rneans oia crossed belt 49 to a pulley 50 also mounted on the drive shaft 4- 8. Clutches 5; and 52 are providedlfor the pulleys, l7 and .50 which clutches maybe alternately engaged byimeans 0ft! control 53st) that :e itherpulley maybe clutched to the driveshaft 4E8.

"It.is]dbvious that When the pulley il -is clutched to the shaft that it will drive the pinion {lZtlirough the medium of the pulley 44in one directionland 'vv henjthe pulley h't) "clutched to the shaft 48 the pinion 42 will be drivenifn the opposite direction (luetothe fact "thatthe be1t49 is crosse'c'l'. Thusfby manipulating the clutches 51 and "52, the pinion 42 may be revolved in opposite direccore 37. v, V I

' Also ireciproca'loly (mounted on the rods' t for verticalreciprocation in alignment 'ivith the ell 13 and beneath the core 37 is a ship a per 54 havinga rectangular openii'ig'55iformed din 'ensions o t the 'cor'e so "that-the' latter may recipr ocate through the opening.-- About the perimeter of the-op ning 5 at the bottom of "the stripper is a downwardly proj eeting-flange 56 which fits tightly within ari -opening formed in the toppl ate 5Zofthe mold structure; Thethicknessof the flange 56- is such, hoWeven that it will abut against thetop of the side' and end mold plates. It is seen, "however; that Etheou'ter perimeter of thexfl ange -56 istapered so that it will tightly fitivithin the opening in the topiplate .57 to prevent leakage of liquid between them: The abutment between the outer-perimeter 'Qtth'e flange stand the sides of the opening the top plate :57 limits the -dewnward movement of the stripper 54L, sorthat the bottom edge of the flange 56 will be in alignment Withthe top edges of the side and end ino ld plates: i Toreciprocate the stripper 54, 'it is con= nected to tivoyertical ly "extending ma'eks 58 Which lllesll with pinions 59 secured on the countershaft' 45. A "pair of pulleys 60 and '61 are' collared on this coun'tershaft and are adapted to be driven in opposite directions by belts 62- and 63. The pulleys tit) zan'd 61 are providedw ith clutches "64 which are adaptedtobe alternately operated by ai'control fme'chanism 65to clutch either of the pulleys 60" and *61 to the shaft. T hen the pulley 60 is "clutch'edto the shaft-45 it will be driven inone direction and whenithezpuliley 61 isclutched" to theshaitt 45; the latter will be driven in the-opposite direction. There- "for'e, by' manipulating the clutches 64 the sh-att 4'5 will be rotatedin opposite; directions to reciprocate the racks and the stripr i l L: The guide members of hoththe core 37 and the stripper 54 are provided with springpressedelements for engaging notches GS-and '67 in the vertical "guide rods 36 to yieldzably retain the stripper 54 and the=oore 8 7 ,in their proper re'lativefiposi tions at the-upper-end 0 f their-strokes. I A

Vhen the stripper 54 is in its lowermost position or in operating position relative to the central Well 13, we provide latchmeans for l atchi-ngitin this position; This latch means is' discl'osed in Fig. 2 of the drawings and comprises apair of :keepers 68 arranged at opposite sides of the mold structure capable of being simultaneously Withdrawn by means of ahandle 69. When the stnipper 5 l descends, it moves these keepers 68 outwardly against the action of springs 70 -and when the {stripperpassesthelkeepers {the lat;- ter engage the upper surface of the stripper and maintain it in its lowered position. The keepers asbet-ore stated may be; actuated -to release the stripper by means of the handle Latches "71 '(see" Fig. 8) are providedto latch the core 87 to the stripper when these elementsiare in their lowermost position relative to the mold structure. These latches may be manually released when it is desired to elevate the core relative to the stripper.

To deliver the pulp suspended in liquid to the well, we provide a delivery pipe 72 which is connected to a sourceof pulp supply. The lower end of this pipe 72 is fitted with a swivel nozzle 73 controlled by a valve 74. A valve is interposed in the pipe 72 at a predetermined space above the nozzle 73. It is intended that the cubic capacity of the pipe 72 between the valve 75 and the nozzle 73 be equal to the amount of liquid and pulp necessary for the manufacture of a container. When desiring to fill the well with pulp, the nozzle 73 is swung to the position indicated in Fig. 2 and the valve 74 is opened permitting the pulp to discharge into the central well 13. hen the flow stops, the valve 74 is closed and the nozzle 73 is swung away from its position over the well to an unobstructing position. The valve 75 is then opened and the pipe 72 again filled with the pulp after which the valve 75 is closed.

In operation of the device, when the well 13 has been supplied with pulp the mold plates 15, 16 and 18 are in the positions shown in Figs.- 1 and 2 and the stripper 54 and core 37 are in the positions illustrated in Fig. 2 where they are yieldably supported by the notches 66 and 67 in the guide rods 36.

' The shaft 45 is then revolved to rotate the pinions 59 a sufficient amount to lower the racks 58 to place the stripper 54 in its lowermost position. The pinion 42 is then revolved to lower the core 37 to position within the well 13. It will be noticed from Figs. 1 and 8 that at its upper end the core 37 is formed with a tapered surface 37a which coincides with the taper of the perimeter of the opening through the stripper 54. When this tapered surface 37a contacts with the tapered perimeter of the opening through the stripper 54, the core 37 will be in proper position within the well.

When the stripper and core have been lowered to position the latches 68 and 71 will latch them in position. It is seen that due to the water tight joint between the stripper 54 and the cover plate 57 of the mold structure and the tight joint between the tapered surfaces 37 a of the core and the perimeter of the opening through the stripper 54, the fluid and pulp in the well will be confined therein.

As before stated the core 37 is foraminous so as to permit the passage of the water through its walls but preventing the passage of the pulp substances. Therefore, all of the pulp will be confined to the exterior of the core while the fluid may pass into the core.

After the parts are in the positions just described, the shaft 22 is revolved one-half a revolution to move all of the mold plates 15, 16 and 18 totheir innermost positions.

the core between the outer surface thereof and the surfaces of the mold plates.

It may be desired to engrave the surfaces of the mold plates so as to form indicia on the box. These mold plates as before described are heated and when the water is withdrawn from the core, the heat tends to partially dry the formed container.

As the mold plates are operated a suction is created in a pipe 76, the lower open end of which extends through the tight cover 38 of the core to a point contiguous to the bottom of the core. This suction withdraws all of the water and moisture from within the core. Thus, this suction and the heated mold plates 15, 16 and 18 cause partial drying of the formed container.

The next step is to revolve the pinions 59 and 42 in unison to elevate the stripper 54 and the core 37 in unison to a point where the stripper 54 has reached its uppermost position. The suction through the pipe 76 is discontinued and air under pressure is discharged therethrough into the core. The pressure of this air slightly expands the container on the core to loosen it from the core. Continued upward movement of the core 37 removes the core from the container. It is seen that the flange 56 of the stripper 54 engages the upper edges of the container and strips it from the core 37 as the latter is withdrawn therefrom (see Fig. 2).

Just prior to stripping the container from the core 37 a flat hollow pallet 77 is arranged beneath the container to receive the same when it is stripped from the core. This pallet is disposed horizontally and is connected to a vertical hollow shaft 78 rotatably supported at its ends by the frame 11 at one side of the machine. This hollow shaft 78 is connected with a suction line 79 adapted to create a suction within the pallet and through the perforated top 80 thereof to cause the container to adhere to the pallet. The pallet 77 is rotatably connected to the shaft 78 so that after it has been swung with the container to a position at the exterior of the machine, it may be revolved to invert the container and deliver it to a receiving means in inverted position. When the container is inverted the suction within the pallet 77 causes the container to adhere to the pallet. When this suction is discontinued the container will be released from the pallet.

We prefer to deliver the container in an inverted position because we have found in actual practice that this maintains the edges of the container perfectly flat and prevents the container from warping.

To discontinue the suction through the pallet 77 and to revolve the same we provide a valve shaft 81 having a valve 82 thereon which cooperates with a valve seat 83. When the valve shaft 81 is revolved the entire pallet revolves due to an extension 84 on the valve. To operate the valve to discontinue the suction it is moved axially against the seat 83.

From the foregoing it is obvious that we have provided an apparatus enabling containers to be comparatively inexpensively manufactured from vegetative or other pulp and while we have shown the preferred form of our invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a contractile mold having imperforate side, end and bottom walls and open at the top and into which pulp suspended in liquid may be placed, a rectangular foraminous core adapted to be suspended within the mold and movable into and out of the same through the open top thereof, means for contracting the mold about the core to compress the pulp in the spaces intermediate the mold and core to form a container, and means for withdrawing the liquid from the mold and core as the container is formed.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a mold having imperforate sides, ends and bottom and open at the top, a rectangular core adapted to be suspended within the mold and movable into and out of the same through the open top thereof, means for simultaneously moving the sides, ends and bottom of the mold toward the core to a point a predetermined distance from the core to compress the pulp in the spaces between the sides, ends and bottom of the mold and core to form a container, said core permitting the passage of fluid therethrough, and means for withdrawing the liquid from the core.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a contractile mold having imperforate side, end and bottom walls and into which pulp suspended in liquid may be placed, a rigid foraminous core adapted to be positioned Within the mold and movable into and out of the same through the open top thereof, said mold being adapted to be contracted about the core to force the liquid into the core and compress the pulp in the spaces intermediate the mold and the core to form a container, and means for stripping the container thus formed from the core after the core has been removed from the mold.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a rectangular contractile adapted to be contracted about the force the liquid into; the core and compress mold through the open top adapted to be positionedwithinthe iiiold,

said mold being adapted" tofbe com;

about the core to force the liquidintothe V ore and compress. the'pulp in the spaces intermediate the moldand the coreto "f'ormja container aboutthe core, enemas-us for ithdrawingthe liquid from the core; I 5. An apparatus .of"the character deiscribed compr sing a contractilemold having im'perforate side, end and bottom 'W'alls andop'en' at the top, meansi for heating said 'mold,1neans for discharging apreidetermined quantity of pulp suspended in liquid in;

mold a ri 'id rectan ular foramlnous core movable into 'and out of the mold through "the'op'en top'thereof and ad'apted'tob'e positioned within amnesia, said moldd'be corejto the pulp in the spaces intermediate the mold and core to form a container, means for simul- 'taneously' withdrawing the waterlfroni the core, and meansfor stripping the" container from the core after theoontainer been formed. I v, a

6', An apparatus ofthefchar'a c'ter descr bed compr slng a mold hav1n'g"'1mperforate sides, ends and bottom and open top,

a rigidrectangular forfaminous core movable into and'out ofthe mold tliroiigh theopiitop thereof and adapted to b'e suspendedwithin the mold, means for discharging predetermined quantity of pulpand li'qu'idinto the "mold prior to thefpositioning of the core therein means for oving the ends b'ottoinof the mold tow'ardth'e core to*a point a predetermined distance from briefed-e a "compress the pulpIaboiitthe coreand'to force the liquid into the core, means for simultaneously withdrawinglth'e liquid from the core,

and means for ro m g the container from the core and tliereafter strippmg the felontai'ner from the core;

7.,An apparatus of the character described comprising a mold having'imperforate sides, ends and bottom and open at the top, means for discharging a predetermined quantity of liquid and pulp into the mold, an operative foraminous core movable into and out of the" mold through the open top thereof and adapted to be suspended Within the mold, means forming a fluid tight joint between the top of the core and the top of the mold, means for simultaneously moving the sides, ends and bottom of the mold toward the core and to a point a predetermined distance from the core to compress the pulp about the core and to force the liquid into the core, and means,

for withdrawing said liquid as the container is formed.

8. An apparatus of the character described comprising a mold having imperforate sides, ends and bottom and open at the top, means for discharging a predetermined quantity of liquid and pulp into the mold, an operative foraminous core movable into and out of the mold through the open top thereof and adapted to be suspended within the mold, means forming a fluid tight joint between the top of the core and the top of the mold, means for simultaneously moving the sides, ends and bottom of the mold toward the core and to a point a predetermined distance from the core to compress the pulp about the core and to force the liquid into the core, means for withdrawing said liquid as the container is formed, means for heating the sides, ends and bottom of the mold, means for loosening the container from the core after the latter has been removed from the mold, and means for stripping the container from the core after it has been loosened therefrom.

9. An apparatus of the character described comprising a mold having imperforate sides, ends and bottom and open at the top, means for discharging a predetermined quantity of liquid and pulp into the mold, an operative foraminous core movable into and out of the mold through the open top thereof and adapted to be suspended within the mold, means forming a fluid tight joint between the top of the core and the top of the mold, means for simultaneously moving the sides, ends and bottom of the mold toward the core and to a point a predetermined distance from the core to compress the pulp about the core and to force the liquid into the core, means for withdrawing said liquid as the container is formed, means for heating the sides, ends and bottom of the mold, means for loosening the container from the core after the latter has been removed from the mold, means for stripping the container from the core after it has been loosened therefrom, means for receiving the container as it is stripped from the core, said means being operative to remove the container from the apparatus and deliver it in inverted position.

WILLIAM H. FULGHER. CHARLES H. l/VOOD. 

